BMW 1-Series to get 1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol engines

BMW 1 Series Hatchback

BMW has been pretty aggressive lately with it product strategy. The 1-Series will be getting a facelift soon. BMW has already revealed the car but the official unveiling is planned for the Frankfurt motor show in September. Meanwhile, BMW is slowly revealing the details of the new car that will be coming out in a couple of months. BMW’s development boss, Klaus Draeger has confirmed to Autocar, the powerplants that will power the new 1 Series.

Improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions has been on the top of the agenda these days for all automakers. At BMW, the aim has been no different. The 1 Series is set to get a improved, frugal petrol as well as diesel engines. The plan is for a 1.5 litre, 3 cylinder engine which according to Draeger will not be available on the new BMW 3 Series. Now, there is also a talk of a front-wheel drive architecture that will form the base of the new 1 Series. The same platform will be shared by the new 1 Series with the Mini.

2012 BMW 1 Series

The new engine with its reduced capacity will be more frugal, courtesy its better capacity-to-surface-area ratio. The new 1.5 litre petrol engine will have a maximum potential to put out 54 bhp per cylinder i.e, if you do the math, 162 horsepower. Thus, the top-of-the-line variant will have close to 160 bhp on tap. That said, the new 1-Series is set to enter the Indian market, although there have been reports we can’t confirm any of those yet.

A front-wheel drive platform as well as frugal, smaller capacity engines could help BMW price the car competitively and the final price is what will make all the difference. With Mercedes Benz too pondering the A Class and B Class hatchbacks for India, offering the 1 Series for the lowest possible price without compromising on the joy of driving will top the list for BMW India.

Via Autocar